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| FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (Image Source: FIBA/NBA Europe/Getty Images) |
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) recently announced that they will move forward in their joint exploration of a new professional pan-European men’s basketball league by engaging prospective teams and ownership groups in the process to join the league. In addition to permanent spots, the new league would offer every team in a FIBA-affiliated domestic league in Europe a merit-based pathway to qualify on an annual basis either through FIBA’s Basketball Champions League (BCL) or an end-of-season qualifying tournament. The league would also align its schedule with domestic league and national team schedules, allowing players to represent their club and national team year-round.
As part of the new league, the NBA and FIBA would also plan to dedicate financial support and resources to the continued development of Europe’s basketball ecosystem including domestic leagues, club team academies, and the NBA and FIBA’s existing programs to develop aspiring players, coaches and referees at all levels of the game. “Advancing further this joint NBA-FIBA project is great news for the European basketball community. The format of the league respects European sport model principles by offering any ambitious club in the continent a fair pathway to the top. The project is conceived in a way that will improve the sustainability of the entire European basketball ecosystem including players, clubs, leagues and national federations, by generating a knock-on effect that will strongly benefit basketball fans throughout Europe,” said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
“Our conversations with various stakeholders in Europe have reinforced our belief that an enormous opportunity exists around the creation of a new league on the continent. Together with FIBA, we look forward to engaging prospective clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game’s potential in Europe,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The NBA and FIBA will provide additional updates in the coming months.
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Sparkle GMA Artist Center Calls For Kindness Online With Star-Studded “Click Kindness” Campaign
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| (Top, L-R) Kyline Alcantara, Jessica Villarubin, Rita Daniela, (Middle, L-R) Ashley Ortega, Shuvee Etrata, Julie Anne San Jose, (Bottom, L-R) Roxie Smith, Ruru Madrid, and Alden Richards come together for Sparkle GMA Artist Center’s “Click Kindness” campaign, urging artists and fans to promote empathy, positivity, and responsible behavior across digital spaces. (Image Source: Manila Standard/GMA Network) |
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” — Lao Tzu
GMA Network’s talent management arm Sparkle GMA Artist Center marks its 30th anniversary with a renewed mission — to inspire positivity and compassion — through “Click Kindness”, an anti-bullying campaign that encourages both artists and fans to promote kindness online and offline. In an era where public figures and fans often face harsh criticism and online bashing, Sparkle’s call to action encourages thoughtful, empathetic interactions. The campaign focuses on mental health, reminding the digital world that small acts of kindness can make a significant impact.
As part of the initiative, Sparkle unveiled a special video featuring its brightest homegrown talents including Alden Richards, Julie Anne San Jose, Ruru Madrid, Miguel Tanfelix, Kyline Alcantara, Ysabel Ortega, Shuvee Etrata, Ashley Ortega, Allen Ansay, Rita Daniela, Jessica Villarubin, Roxie Smith, and Prince Carlos, carrying the message “change starts when you choose to care,” inviting viewers to make a difference one click at a time. “Madali naman tayong magpakita ng magandang katangian sa tunay na mundo. So siyempre, gamitin din natin ito online, because our reach online combined is very powerful. Lahat ng posts natin dapat nagbibigay ng inspirasyon, hindi nagbibigay ng hateful feedback, hindi nang-aaway, kundi nagbibigay ng pagmamahal,” said Alden Richards on the power of the positivity during Sparkle's 30th anniversary celebration. Asia's multimedia star concluded with a reminder: “Kindness goes a long way, and it starts with all of us… with you, with me, and everyone online.”
Sparkle encourages fans to flood social media with positive messages using the hashtag #ClickKindness, aiming to create a ripple effect that extends beyond its fan base. The campaign highlights that celebrating 30 years is more than just a milestone — it is a movement to inspire care, empathy, and love throughout the digital world. Fans are invited to join the celebration by posting one positive content and using the hashtag #ClickKindness today.
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PLDT Home OMG Winner Donates ₱100,000 Prize To Typhoon Victims
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| The Monsanto family with PLDT Home executive Cheryl Maxine Parangan-Loyola (Image Source: Newsbytes.ph/PLDT Inc.) |
Amid the more frequent and intense calamities brought about by climate change, the Filipino bayanihan spirit shines through. The Monsantos are a perfect example of this. As the latest winners of PLDT Home’s One Mega Giveaway (OMG) promo, Marlowe Monsanto and family opted to donate their ₱100,000 cash reward to PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF)’s relief operations for the benefit of typhoon Uwan survivors and upcoming holiday assistance programs for displaced communities.
“When we learned about the ongoing Uwan recovery efforts, we knew we wanted our winnings to serve a greater purpose. Through this, we hope to contribute to rebuilding communities. That is enough for us,” said Marlowe whose family’s recent decision to switch to subscribe to PLDT Home paved the way for them to enter and win the OMG promo. PSF President Esther O. Santos thanked the Monsanto family for their donation, stating, “This reflects our shared responsibility for community welfare. By donating their prize to support disaster-affected communities, their family is helping to bring stability back to other families currently rebuilding their lives.” She added that their contribution will be utilized to buy relief packs and support logistical operations for hard-hit regions, ensuring that aid reaches the intended beneficiaries efficiently.
As the country moves into the holiday season, PSF’s relief operations now focus on sustained recovery and morale building. One Mega Giveaway, in addition to being a customer rewards campaign, has also become an avenue through which PLDT and its subscribers can partner to help those in need. Through the One Mega Giveaway (OMG), PLDT Home goes beyond connectivity by empowering Filipino families to live better, dream bigger, and stay meaningfully connected. Each winner’s story is a reminder that every PLDT Home connection holds the power to transform lives and create life’s biggest OMG moments.
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Xsolla Returns As Headline Sponsor Of Global Game Jam 2026 To Support Creators And Expands Community Growth Worldwide
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| (Image Source: Business Wire/Xsolla) |
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, recently announced a new partnership with Global Game Jam (GGJ) as the Headline Sponsor for the 2026 event cycle. This collaboration reinforces Xsolla’s commitment to supporting developers of all experience levels and expanding opportunities for creators across the international game development community. The Global Game Jam brings together tens of thousands of participants from around the world each year to create games, learn new skills, and collaborate in a supportive, creative environment.
Through this partnership, Xsolla and GGJ will introduce new educational experiences, co-branded content, and direct support that reaches aspiring developers and established creators alike. This year’s diversifier is Cross-Platform Play, encouraging teams to design and create games that seamlessly connect across platforms including PC, the web, and mobile. Core gameplay stays consistent while the UI and controls can adjust based on the device. Teams can optionally connect their idea and game to other relevant GGJ diversifiers to add more creativity and discoverability to their game. As part of the experience to support the creators, Xsolla will be hosting the GGJ at their office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with additional workshops and providing all the things needed to help them launch, grow, and win. “Global Game Jam embodies the spirit of creativity, experimentation, and community, driving our industry forward. We’re proud to support the incredible developers who come together each year to learn, collaborate, and build new ideas. Our focus is on providing clear pathways and practical resources to help creators take their projects further long after the jam concludes,” said Xsolla Chief Marketing and Growth Officer Berkley Egenes.
Global Game Jam continues to expand as a key entry point for new talent and an international gathering place for developers, educators, students, and studios. The collaboration between Xsolla and GGJ strengthens the connection among learning, creation, and long-term opportunities for participants worldwide. For more information about the Global Game Jam 2026, visit GGJ's official website at globalgamejam.org. For more information about Xsolla’s sponsorship of Global Game Jam, visit https://xsolla.pro/globalgamejam2026.
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My Little Puppy Now Available On LG's Global Cloud Gaming Service
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| (Image Source: Cloud Dosage/KRAFTON Inc.) |
Dreamotion Inc., a creative studio under KRAFTON Inc., recently announced that its new single-player adventure game My Little Puppy, originally released last November 7, 2025, will be available by end of December on LG Electronics’ webOS-based Gaming Portal, the ultimate destination for compelling gaming experiences. Service will begin in North America and roll out sequentially to additional regions. With this launch, My Little Puppy can now be played across a wide range of webOS powered devices including LG Smart TVs, Smart Monitors, and StanbyME without requiring a console. Players simply connect a compatible gamepad and begin playing instantly.
My Little Puppy is a narrative-driven adventure game where players step into the paws of Bong-gu, a Welsh Corgi living in Dog Heaven beyond the Rainbow Bridge. As Bong-gu sets out to greet his beloved dog dad who has just entered the afterlife, players experience a touching, storybook-like tale about love, parting, and reunion. Designed with intuitive controls and a gentle difficulty level, the game welcomes players of all ages and captures the warmth of a dog’s world through behaviors such as sniffing, barking, running, and jumping. Dreamotion CEO Junyoung Lee said, “We are delighted that My Little Puppy, previously available only on PC, can now reach more players through LG Gaming Portal. We hope even more users will experience the comfort and warmth the game was created to deliver.”
LG Gaming Portal is an all-in-one gaming platform available in more than 30 countries, enabling users to discover and play games on webOS-based devices without a dedicated gaming console. For more information about My Little Puppy, visit the official Steam store page at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2102040/My_Little_Puppy.
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Com2uS Begins Development of New Console-PC Title Based on Global Hit Anime Gachiakuta
| (Image Source: PinoyGamer.ph/Com2uS) |
Video game development company Com2uS (CEO Jae-kwan Nam) officially announced that it is currently developing Gachiakuta: The Game (working title), a new project based on the globally acclaimed anime Gachiakuta which follows Rudo, a boy born and raised in the slums who rebels against discrimination and oppression in a world divided by extreme inequality. The anime adaptation of the action manga written and illustrated by manga artist Kei Urana With graffiti design by Hideyoshi Andou has captured worldwide attention with its powerful social themes, raw graffiti-inspired aesthetic, and striking action direction. Recently, it ranked No.1 in average viewership on Crunchyroll in the United States, Germany, and France and continues to secure top-tier rankings across major OTT platforms in Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
Com2uS is reinterpreting the anime’s setting and atmosphere to create a survival action RPG where users enter monster-infested zones, complete missions, and return safely to secure areas. The game aims to deliver the series’ intense combat and distinctive visual style through a fully realized experience optimized for both console and PC environments. The title is planned for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Steam, featuring cel-shaded visuals, stylish character art, and a unique narrative that captures the essence of the original anime — allowing fans to experience its world firsthand. Immediately following the broadcast of the anime’s 2nd season finale aired last December 21, 2025 in Japan, Com2uS unveiled the first video teaser for Gachiakuta: The Game via Japanese TV channels and the game’s official YouTube channel. The teaser showcases the personalities of key characters and the anime’s iconic atmosphere, offering an early look at the fast-paced action and striking visuals that players will encounter.
Com2uS stated, “Gachiakuta is a powerful series that blends explosive action with deep philosophical messages. We look forward to expanding its appeal through a game that allows fans to fully immerse themselves in its world.” Meanwhile, Com2uS continues to collaborate closely with Kodansha, participating in multiple anime production committees including Gachiakuta. Both companies are strengthening their partnership to broaden the global reach and value of these IPs with the development of this new title expected to further expand the possibilities of the Gachiakuta universe.
